Powered vehicle accommodating workers in prone position



1950 R. L. CHRCKERING ETAL 2,518,

POWERED VEHICLE ACCOMMODATING WORKERS IN PRONE POSITION Fild Oct. 9, 194B 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ROBERT ALFRED M.

R. CHICKERING ETAL 2,518, POWERED VEHICLE ACCOMMODATING WORKERS IN PRONE POSITION Aug. 8, 1950 2 Sheets-SheetZ Filed Oct. 9, 194a INVENTOR. KERIN G ROBER T L. CHI C ALFR D M. CH CKERI Patented Aug. 8, 1950 r;

. ;;Th;is invention relates in general; to a vehicle ,for transporting workers andmore particularly :to animproved, self-propelled type thereof for carrying a pluralityof workers in proneposition,

1 rownnnnxvnmcm ACbOMMODA'TlNG 'WQRKERSIN PRONE POSITION f :Robert L. Ghickering and Alfred M. Chickering,

- Balding, Mich.,---assignors to 'Ohickering Vegetable Equipment Co., Inc, fielding, Mich a corporation of Michigan "Application center 9, 1 948Q SerialNo. 53,612

themovement and direction of saidvehicle being 5 controllable by one of said prone workers.

I The presently known self-propelleduvehicles for .transporting a plurality of workers in the prone position, for a purposesuch as planting onions, :-require one person tosteer the vehicle and oper- 10 ateitspropelling unit, which person is not able tc do any other work. During periods when man- -;power isscarce or high priced, this extra worker becomes costly. J v

.jprone position,-which workersare all participat- Figure 4 is. a broken, sectional view takenalong the line IV--IV of Figure 1.

Figure 5:illustrates one means of mounting the H rear axle for vertical adjustment.

Figure 6 illustrates-one means of mountin the forks of the front wheels for vertical adjust- Itwill be clearly understood that the words ffront or forward, and rear or rearward, which refer to the direction of normal operation of the vehicle, are used herein for illustrative purposes, only,and are not intended to impose -limitations upon the scope of the invention.

' j The labor transporting vehicle l0, shown in the Accordingly, a primary object of this invention 15 drawings. s comprised f a r n ul r fr m to provide an improved, self-propelled vehicle -for-transporting a plurality of :workers in the ing in productive operations.

*Afurther object of this inventionis to pr0vide,,20 a vehicle as aforesaid which is steerable; and

,whose movement iscontrollable, by. one of .the proneworkers. -L j Other objects 1 and purposes of this invention V .-:will become apparent to persons familiar;w.ith,;2

" this type of equipment .upon preferring .to the accompanying drawings-and upon reading the following specification. y

' i In meetingthose objects and purposes heretofore mentioned, as well as others incidental-,

thereto .and associated therewith, ,we have pro- 1 vided ai fourwheeled vehiclehaving forward and rearward ends and having a flat, rectangular frame supported upon and substantially between f'myi invention, attention is directedjto the acj companying drawingsin whichi ,Figpiel is Ta. top plan view of the Vehicle to whih'this invention relates. 1 '1 Figure. 2 is amectional view taken along the lilie'lL- lli'offig-ure 1.

fgportingacanopyn 1 For illustration of a preferred embodiment j of J ra m ..imnii ev en e h ve icle he Ri s I! having forward and rearward, horizontal, transverse frame elements l2 and I3, which ele- .ments are preferably substantially parallel to each other and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis ofthe vehicle Ill. The forward frame ele- :ment I2 is secured on top of the forward ends of a pair of spaced, preferably parallel, longitudinal, metal chassis members l4 and I5, which --members also pass over, are secured to, and extend rearwardly beyond the rearward frame ele- ;;n 1 ent l3.- The forward ends of said chassis members are preferably positioned slightly higher ;;than the rearward ends thereof. Thus, the rearward frame element I3 is somewhat lower than the forward frame element I2." Furtherparallel,

longitudinal frame members Ida and I50: con- -nect the outer ends of the transverse elements l2 and I3.

The rearwardly extending ends [8' and IQ of A plurality the chassis members l4 and I5 are supported .uponsa pair of drivingwheels l6 and ll wh ch are positioned rearwardly of the rearward frame element l3 and adjacent to said chassis membe'rs extended ends. The wheels 16 and I7 are secured to (and rotatable with the rear shaft 2| whic'his yrotatably supported within the bearings 22 and 23 which are secured to the chassis member ex- ;tended ends [8 and lib-respectively, in any conventional manner. A rear cross bar 2a, which is preferably parallelwith the rearwardfr'ame ele- ..ment 13 and spaced rearwardly therefrom. is secured to the chassis members extended ends ..;l8 and linear the rearward extremities thereof. An intermediate cross bar 40 lies across the chassis member I4 and I5 directly above therearward J" frame element l 3.

' A pair 'of fslide rods 25 and 2a, which are" seiqcured to and extend between the cross bar24 and the intermediate cross bar 40, are substantially perpendicular thereto and lie between the chassis 2,518,418 I I 3 4 members I4 and I5, preferably adjacent to the upon the front cross bar 35 preferably between chassis member I5. A power unit 21, which may the chassis members [4 and I5 and substantially be a gasoline engine of any appropriate size and longitudinally aligned with said rear bracket 46. ype, is longitu in l y adjustably pported upon A steering arm 49, which is secured to, and subthe slide rods 25 and 26. 5 stantially perpendicular to, the front steering A variablejpit h diiving Du1'1ey7 W h :bar fihextendsiforwarfilyttherefromrand is adrotatably 's pp d up dtlriv y theipower oustabl secured E to the tie rod we intermediate u is p y a d by a pulley belt 3| its extremities. The corresponding ends of the W c also engages and drives the driven P 5 ';front and rear steering bars 41 and 45, respec- 32. The said driven pulley fizisosecuredtomand H) utively areqm tually engaged by a pair of steering rotatable with the rear whel shaft 11 I. Said 1 r fdszsl ntfi' jz,respectively.

p y 32 may be secured directlyto said shaft Accordingly, a pivotal movement of the rear or, preferably, it may be seeuredtthereto throug Asteering bar- Wis translated into a turning moveany conventional speed reduetion meehanism. n t o 'th f f tr 3 and 39 through t A clutch lever 33, Which isp V a y O :5 rsteeringrdds 5|"a'n'd 52, the front steering bar 41, the chassis member I5 near the forward end the steering arm "49', the transverse tie rod 43, r is p rably connected eto eany le. ethetturningetengues 4| and 42, and the turning conventional clutch mechanism, not shown, by forks 36 d 31. means o the clutch o 34. Said c u c Ailurality of stretchers (Figure 1), herein as desired, be associated with the output shaft of shown as 4 in numberr nd indicated by the nufiitherpewer unit or itmayibefinoorporated intorthe s g emg m e-53 'gnd553g;:a1qe:Tembvab'1y,;sup-

speed reduction gear meehanism assoeiated with epqptdrupon, azrd exterid iongitudinally between, the eriven pulleym. 'ln he p i w m n 'the forward and reamard frame eiements I 2 and here shown the speed rednetion mechanism comwe Whege$trtbhepsegpe g ami e m t epfls s a ta d o ry ar a ra m nt smannen butwiil be satistactory if 'each -is oomwvherin the frame hpming the rplanetary ogears prised 26f -e e gs fif r gme pq g mamau e has a revolvable arm external of the casing surranged r agn'e t ewm areustrthed a rouriding the me'chan ism. The end of tliis arm hody supporting eanvas 56 I and; a head suppoiep aplfieafs'i'tfiZZWiriiFigureq; fliblflkwfllis y '=-"ing--eanvas 62. itiladrh strtfilrer -is- 'tlesigned "to +=suppctted 'on the longitudinal' frame meniber f5 *30"SHp@1 t='OTie Worker -in the Wei-reposition. In a d v rward y rfd=r arwa d1y by th tthis particuiarxembeuimentrerztneiinventienfithe -=liith rodAM. 'Upon realwaldi moyemeritrfifithe -stretcher 531) positioned--substazitially ?direetly chith rdd, the blockla fl is moved I into the path r v r.th ..gt ri ah m 4-4 ss ibhgtaa, .wgixker 6fryluticnofthe-arnr Z-Q. lhus the -revolution supported upon the stretcher 53b imthe prone "*of the planetary gears'in-thespeed reductionrunit e Ip'esition: eameasil-wan'd 'eflectivelymga'ge rthe rear pp arfd' the axle zl cause'd -to rotate. Inssteeringtharmwwithihis 'feet. sincei-the stretther itientally,='s'ince this planetary *arrangement'here r531; 3 e ett nt .t il-e g -e m 'fun'cticns to connect and disconnect i the -tr-ans- 55 171113011 tthe zirluteh lever .53 si zmounfiefl, *"mission df: power from "the power unit zlto the the worker supportd by thestretcher 531) scan shaft I it,'-"to'gether *with' conventional friction ralsofioperateesaidmmtchilevertaszwell as steen the rlevicesis 'to be understood as inhided by' 'the r vehicle. 'jg'erieral =werd.-e 1eten" *in 1 the specification and 1 An appropriat r st t s; {Figures age a laims herin. Thusfithepcwernnit fl canbe 4), including the three horizontal,tpaealleliridge caused toactuate--or'--cease=aetuating the driting 1pQ1es54,i-55eamd zifinnayrbeesecuredtto and supwheels F6 and I T'whemthe'saidpowenurfitis-runported upeni thetrectangular: frame t leand/orvthe fling, by appropriate "operation er the match iehassisimembers 11:42am H25 iiorithe purpose hOf iever"33. I suppottmg asuitableeancpym.

*A ro t oss bar -35 't ieure 1) is supported Before operating the transporting wemere to zupon spacedfforwardiiy from,*arrd strbstantiaily which Ethe's iiwvention rrelates, ran nappropriate erena 'with"the forwa1d"frame"elemerit I' 2, "'and 5o =sped aidjustm ent isrmafie' to suit thettypeiofecnop intersects the longitudinal axes of *the hassis 'io'eing worked,-the ianrikbeingicoveredtonithe workfmembers I4 and f5. A pair'o'f turningforksflfi i erszbeingtnsedjibyzmovmg theipowemu-nit ZIitorand 31, which rotatably support the "front'or Wardty er:rea'vwardlwaiongwhe slide rods fiaand totalmovement'about a vertical axismpon the emodates .itselfttomuchrmovementmftthe:power "front crossbar 55, isai'd turning' 'forks beirrg reitlmit 2121 zinaa monventinnal rmanner, cthereby ef- "s'pe'ctiveiy adjacent *to the "forward' end-et each ii-ectingaifiesired :rletermination zof zthe "speed :of ."chassisunember Wand'f5andin alignment with tthewehioieis'mmzement. bThe mower ounit 2:21-3 Ithe I rear wheels f6 *an'ii H. *A pair "of turning eenemizedzarfidtthewehiole :I fliisxready forrmovetongues 4| 'arfd'flpwhich-"are rigidly securd m :mentuuponrpropervactuatienrofz-thecclutchflever "the turningforks 36"and "31,respetive1y,'-'extend e33. I The workerereclinin'g-.nn,.,the .stretcher;-53b "forwardlyth'erefrom "and :are mutually engaged Iactuatesntheeelutchslever' 33 eand lthe vehicle I 0 neart'their forwardmktremities by the opposite tisrtherebytcaused toemoveriorw ardlygatea steady -"extremities of thtie 111E 43." .speed. eworkerlonssaidestretcher-53b then "A*steeringmeehanism44(Figures 1*arid' 4'):is 5 steers the vehicle along the field,with;his feet "comprised'of a-rea:r steering bar 45;-=which is p'ivwhilelhe, processes .the groundnr -cropsibeneath totallysupported interrrie'd-iate its extremities 'him'inthesamemannerlasltheworkersreclining upon*a rear bracket' dfi'rorsubstantially h-oi'lzonon the 'stretchersj53,.'53a and53. "Thusfit will tarmove'ment. TSaid bracketis'adjustablwsupbe recognized thatall occupants'o'fi'the vliitle ported "upon the rearward frame element tIL m"Ill-maycontritniteproductively ancrnoextra'man preferably between the .chassisjmeiri'bers HI-and is required to operate'the'veh'lcle.

."A front'steeringbarflis pivotally supported 7 'A'lthough'not essentiartotl're broadpconceptof 'intermediate its "extremities "for movement i in at the invention,,the machine-as-describedaridfillassub'stantialiyfhor'izontal plane upon "the front *tratediendsitselfreadi'ly"to the iateralwadjustbrafi "48,which"bracketisadjustablysupportd able construction"illustrated; 1tw'ilY-be *appreq iven machinef" Each of the stretcher members liliand the chassis members 14 anal-5 are fastened to the transverse members l2 and l3 by first being secured to anchor members 65,166 and 6 respectively,"attheir'forward ends and to anchormembers 65a,- E6'a' 'and 61a at their rearward ends,

which anchor'membe'rs encircle the transverse members l2 and I3, are'slida-ble therealong and detachably fastenable ,thereto. The front cross bar is detachably fastened,- ;as by-bolting, .totlie plates l and II of the fork assemblie 36 and 31, respectively. The intermediate cross bar 40 and the rear cross bar .24 are slidably received into the anchor members 40a. and 40b, and 24a and 241), respectively, which anchor members are welded, or otherwise rigidly fastened, to the respective chassis members l4 and l 5 as shown. The hearing 22 is adjustably slidable along the shaft 2|.

Further, as illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, the front and rear wheels may by this construction be readily mounted for vertical adjustment if desired.

Although the above mentioned drawings and description apply to one particular preferred embodiment of the invention, it is not our intention, implied or otherwise, to eliminate other variations or modifications which do not depart from the scope of the invention unless specifically stated to the contrary in the hereinafter appended claims.

We claim: 7 1. In a vehicle, having a forward end and a rearward end, for accommodating workers in the prone position, the combination comprising: a pair of spaced, parallel, longitudinal chassis members sloping downwardly toward their rearward ends; a flat, rectangular frame having forward and rearward, parallel, transverse elements perpendicular to and crossing said chassis members, said chassis members being secured at their forward ends upon said forward element for adjustment therealong, said chassis members being secured intermediate their extremities above said rearward element for adjustment therealong, and said chassis members extending rearwardly of said rearward element; a pair of driving wheels rotatably mounted upon the rearwardly extending ends of said chassis members; a power unit supported upon said extending ends; transmission means, including clutch means, operably connecting said power unit with said driving wheels; a clutch actuating lever pivotally supported upon one chassis member near its forward end and linkage connecting said lever to said clutch; a pair of steerable wheels pivotally secured to the forward ends of said chassis members; a front steering bar horizontally pivotally supported upon and between the forward ends of the chassis members and linkage operably connecting said forward steering bar to said steerable wheels; a rear steering bar horizontally pivotally supported upon said rearward element be tween said chassis members and adjacent to said one chassis member; a pair of steering rods operably connecting the corresponding ends of said front and rear steering bars; and a plurality of stretchers extending between and supported upon said forward and rearward frame elements, one of said stretchers being between said chassis members and adjacent to said one chassis member, whereby a worker reclining upon said one stretcher can steer said vehicle by operating said reansteering bar and cancontrol said power unit by actuating said levers 2. In-a vehicle, having a forward end and a rearward end,-for accommodating workers in the prone position, the combination comprising: a

higher than the rearward ends thereof arectangular frame having front and rear parallel elements and means securing said chassis members adjustably thereto for movement of said chassis members transversely of their longitudinal extent, a power unit supported between said driving wheels upon said chassis members; transmission means, including a clutch, operably connecting said power unit with said driving wheels; a clutch actuating lever pivotally supported upon one chassis member and means operably connecting said lever to said clutch; a steering bar horizontally pivotally supported upon said rear element between said chassis members adjacent to said one chassis member; linkage operably connecting said steering bar to said steerable wheels; and a plurality of stretchers extending between said front and rear elements, one of said stretchers being between said chassis members and adjacent to said one chassis member, whereby a worker reclining upon said one stretcher can control the movement and direction of said vehicle by operating the steering bar and the lever.

3. In a vehicle, having forward and rearward ends, for accommodating workers in the prone position, the combination comprising: a pair of spaced, substantially horizontal and parallel longitudinal chassis members; a pair of driving wheels supporting the rearward end of said chassis members and a pair of steerable wheels supporting the forward ends of said chassis members; front and rear, spaced, parallel transverse elements secured to and perpendicular to said chassis members between said driving wheels and the point of support of said steerable wheels on said chassis members; driving wheelactuating means including a clutch mounted on said chassis members; a clutch operating lever pivotally supported upon one chassis member and means connecting said lever to said clutch; a steering bar pivotally supported upon said rear element adjacent to said one chassis member; linkage operably connecting said steering bar to said steerable wheels; and a plurality of stretchers extending between said front and rear elements, one of said stretchers being adjacent to said one chassis member and longitudinally aligned with said steering bar, whereby a worker reclining upon said one stretcher can control the movement and direction of said vehicle by operating the steering bar and the lever.

4. In a vehicle, having forward and rearward ends, for accommodating workers in the prone position, the combination comprising: a pair of spaced, longitudinal, substantially horizontal and parallel chassis members; a pair of driving wheels supporting the rearward ends of said chassis members and a pair of steerable wheels supporting the forward ends of said chassis members; front and rear, spaced, transverse parallel elements secured to and perpendicular to said chassis members; driving wheel actuating means including a clutch mounted on said chassis members; a clutch operating lever pivotally supported 

